Courts / Cork / Report
11 years for killer who beat homeless father to death
Summary
In October 2019, a 28‑year‑old man named James Brady, together with an unnamed accomplice, attacked and killed 53‑year‑old Timothy 'Timmy' Hourihane, a former chef, at a homeless camp in Cork city centre. The assault was unprovoked, brutal and fueled by alcohol and drugs. Witnesses testified that Brady repeatedly stamped on Hourihane's head and body and kicked him in the groin, leading to a collapsed lung, severe facial and head trauma, and death by inhalation of blood and cardiac arrest. After a four‑week trial, Brady was convicted of manslaughter, not murder, and sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The judge noted Brady's prior convictions and the impact of the crime on Hourihane's family, including his son Elliot and brother Denis, who expressed profound grief and a desire for justice. The case highlighted the dangers faced by homeless individuals in the area. The unnamed 28-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 11 years for killer who beat homeless father to death. Charges or matters: murdering Mr Hourihane, a former chef who once worked for the Hilton group in England. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 13, 2019 Incident
- 2022-04-25 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: murdering Mr Hourihane, a former chef who once worked for the Hilton group in England (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: A 28-year-old man who beat a father of one to death at a homeless camp in Cork city centre in a "savage", unprovoked attack has been jailed for 11 years.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Cork University Hospital
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime
Related court reports
- Mentally ill man who put fellow psychiatric patient in chokehold to be immediately released into care of UK parents
- 'Alternative dispute resolution': man arranged 'straightener' during which dad-of-seven was stabbed to death
- Brothers who sexually assaulted teenage girls in mid-nineties can now be identified for first time
- ESB worker too late to pursue claim seeking €42k in alleged unpaid overtime
- 'No hand, act or part': Osgur Breatnach's wrongful conviction for Sallins train robbery declared a miscarriage of justice
- Migrant engineer who worked 10-hour days for under minimum wage wins €14k
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request